Viva La Vita

In the words of Shaboozy: Oh my, good Lord!

It had been a while since I had flown at Christmas time. Reminder to me: traveler earlier next time…lol!

I arrived at RDU 4 hours prior to flight time. Had gone through TSA and located my departure gate. I thought, ok, I’ll relax and have a beer. About half way through my beer I received a notification from United: your flight departing RDU has been delayed by 1.5 hrs…oh no! Half beer buzz was GONE! I contacted my family in Ireland…they said call United NOW! So, 1 hour later (on the phone for an hour), United had me on different flights and all was resolved!!!

I landed in Dublin Dec 24 around 10:45am (Dublin time). Had brief naps on the way over. Had the most festive greeting at the Dublin airport! There was a group singing Christmas carols at the airport greeting travelers just outside bag claim! So fun and yes, I cried a bit (good cry). Family greeted me also!! Was the BEST!

My first day in Ireland began with lunch, trip to the Sandy Cove and the Forty Foot. Had the pleasure of watching some folks partaking in an Irish Christmas Eve tradition of taking a swim (burrrrr!!!) at Sandy Cove or the Forty Foot. Brent and his friend Mark took a dip at Sandy Cove as the water was extremely rough at the Forty Foot. We cheered them on with our American “woohoos!!!”…lol!

Melissa and her family have met some wonderful friends.

Then we went to The Eagle, a pub near the waterfront. Had my first Guinness in Ireland and it was SMOOTH!

We came home, had some super delicious food and about 7:30pm I hit a WALL! Off to bed for me.

Grateful Brent was driving! Driving on the “wrong side” of the road and the “wrong side of the car!

My phone was still on EST when we landed.

The water temperature at Sandy Cove was around 50degrees F on Dec 24.

Elf spotted at The Eagle! LOL, I had to make a double take as he looked like Will Ferrell.